i8S5. 



POPULAR GARDENING. 



1 1 



It ought to be needless to say that south and 

 west windows give the best light for poultry 

 quarters, and yet I sometimes see houses in 

 which this fact seems to have been lost sight 

 of. Horizontal windows are belter for diffus- 

 ing light over the house, than those running up 

 and down. These should be set so as to admit 

 a good deal of light upon the roosts. 



The providing of lime must not be neglected; 

 usually there is no trouble to get a hold of some 

 old plaster or brick mortar where house repairing 

 is going on. Oyster shells from the restau- 

 rants, burned in the stove or in brush heaps are 

 excellent. Bones broken to the size of peas, 

 will be eaten with avidity by hens that are lay- 

 ing; they are a necessity, place them in broad 

 shallow boxes in a place convenient for the 

 hens to get at. Attention to such points as I 

 have referred to, or their neglect make a great i 

 difference in the results, in poultry keeping. 



The Breeds for the Farmer. 



Improved fowls they should be, of course, 

 but let it be remembered, that such are only 

 better than common ones, with having better 

 care also, and then they are far more satisfac- 

 tory. 



One of the first requisites for keeping im- 

 proved breeds of poultry, is a warm house in 

 the winter. With this provided, we would place 

 the Silver Gray Dorkings among the best 

 breeds for the farmer, especially where roaming 

 can be allowed. They are fine table fowls, and 

 lay well until seven or eight years old, are 

 handsome, and good setters and mothers. 



With a warm hen-house in winter, the White- 

 faced Black Spanish are the most profitable 

 where eggs are the chief object. They lay 

 very large white eggs in great numbers. An 

 objection to them is, that they are subject to 

 loose feathering in the summer, a trouble that 

 may in a measure be averted, by giving fresh 

 meat regularly and not over feeding with corn. 



Care During the Moulting Period. 



In all birds the feathers are periodically cast 

 off and renewed, a process which takes place 

 with fowls during the period from August until 

 cold weather of each year, varying with kinds 

 and ages. During this time the tax upon 

 the system, in making a new growth of feath- 

 ers, is a great one, and this should be aided by 

 special care for a spell. On this subject we re- 

 produce an article from that excellent periodi- 

 cal, the American Poultry youriial, which will 

 be of service to our readers : 



The treatment should be especially kind, at 

 this critical period. The sexes should be sepa- 

 rated and kept in different yards by themselves, 

 especially the larger varieties. Let the feed be 

 light, nutritious, and not especially fattening. 



Wheat, oats, bone-meal, cracked corn and 

 plenty of green food with fresh water once or 

 twice daily, will keep them in good thrift and 

 bring them out in fine shape to begin laying 

 early in the winter. 



A few drops daily of Tincture of Iron, mixed 

 with either their food or drink, will assist in di- 

 gestion and strengthening the system. 



Some varieties have more difficulty in moult- 

 ing than others do, taking longer time, which 

 of course is more exhaustive on the system. 

 Among these are the non-setters, and it is late 

 in the fall before they get their new growth of 

 feathers. 



It may be said, that this is one reason why 

 the non-setters do not lay better during the 

 winter, they do not fully recover from the 

 effects of moulting until cold weather comes. 

 It is then hard to get them in good laying con- 

 dition, while the larger breeds of the Asiatic 

 class are heavily feathered, and are belter pre- 

 pared for the cold weather, hence are considered 

 the best layers in a northern climate. 



During the moulting period super-abundant 

 animal matter, which during the spring and 

 early summer went into eggs is now used in 

 the production of new feathers. It is for this 

 reason that the fowls seldom ever lay during 

 moulting. 



Good kind treatment not only benefits the 

 health of the fowl, but also shortens their 

 moulting season and leaves them in excellent 

 condition for the winter. 



CONDENSED POULTRY NOTES. 



Fowls dislike sloppy food. 



You can't clean the coops too often. 



Whitewash the roof also, on the inside. 



A half-starved hen won't lay many eggs. 



Petroleum ointment is a specific for vermin. 



Ungalvanized iron vessels are the best for water. 



Surface water is as unfit for hens, as for persons. 



An egg in the winter is worth two in the summer. 



Fowls and vermin caunot both thrive at the same 

 time. 



Divide the skimmed milk between the swine and 

 the hens. 



Don't keep confined fowls, if you cannot tend 

 them well. 



Young Pullets should be the main reiianee for 

 winter eggs. 



If sickness in fowls does not yield earlj' to treat- 

 ment, the axe is the best cure. 



Both buyers and sellers suffer injustice from 

 reckoning eggs by count. Will this sign of Amer- 

 ican backwardness ever be removed ? 



A correspondent says he sows a patch of rye for 

 his poultry every fall, for early greens in the 

 spring. Has sown as late as November and got a 

 good stand. 



The end of money making at poultry keeping, 

 is often defeated by building a large house, to start 

 in with. Small houses and more of them, is a 

 better course. 



In building a hen house study 1st, comfort, light, 

 and ventilation; 2d, convenience; .3d, roominess; 

 and lastly, economy with all, where profit is the 

 main consideration. 



We have known fowls to hold off from eating 

 large sunflower seeds, as if from fear. Crush a few 

 first, in such cases, and they will soon take kindly 

 to whole ones, no matter how large. 



A ton or more of turkeys are too valuable to leave 

 out nights now. Feed at night-fall, enticing them 

 into the house, have a good lock on the door, and 

 then make it your own business to see that it is 

 locked every night . 



C. Whitcher of Holland, N. Y., the other day 

 found a hen's egg contained within another egg. 

 both shells being perfect. The inside egg was com- 

 mon size, the outside one being very large and 

 having quite a thin shell. 



"Can't they sit down" asked Uttle Freddie, on 

 his first visit to the farm, from his city home, last 

 summer, after he had been watching the busy 

 movements of thi! " chicky birds" for some time. 

 Tired, he thought, because always on their feet. 



The average cur of the country is useless, Iience 

 to feed him is a waste. The average flock of poul- 

 try is very useful and ought to be very profitable, 

 but too often is not, because of scant feeding. 

 Shoot the useless dog, and turn his food in for the 

 chickens. 



It you are looking for a profit in the chicken 

 house this winter, make up your mind from the 

 first to feed meat regularly. Scraps from butcher- 

 ing or the same bought of butchers, is an inex- 

 pensive article, that can be turned into expensive 

 eggs to those who buy. 



Shade in the summer in the hen yard is of great 

 benefit. A good bush for this purpose is the Cur- 

 rant. It will thrive in any out of the way place; 



does not require much room, and the hens like to 

 hide under its branches. The fruit is also accept- 

 able and seems to do them good. We mention 

 this now because now is a good time to get the 

 bushes. Stand a line of laths around each to keep 

 the hens off of the freshly handled earth. 



There are farmers who neglect their poultry, but 

 who would not think of neglecting their horses or 

 other live stpck. Properly managed, and there is 

 no more profitable source of returns on the farm 

 for the outlay, than through the poultry yard. Of- 

 ten those who insist that poultry don't pay. are the 

 ones who should restrict themselves to saying that 

 poultry won't pay for poor management or for 

 money thrown away in needlessly elaborate build- 

 ings.— Loi'is. 



Turkey fattening should soon progress rapidly 

 for early sales. In mild, early autumn weather, 

 these birds lay on fat rapidly with good feeding. 

 At first they need to be fed only at night; they 

 should go to their roosts every night with full crops. 

 This will not prevent their morning excursions. 

 Turkeys prefer corn to any other food ; it should 

 be ground, mixed with water and fed warm. The 

 addition of mashing boiled potatoes,will help their 

 relish for it. As insects drop off, flesh and scraps 

 should be increased. For the last six weeks of his 

 life he should be plied with com. 



A PotiLTRv Fabm —There is a poultry farm of 

 8,000 Plymouth Rocks at Lancaster, Mass. Mr. 

 Hawkins, its owner, calculates to have about 8,000 

 fowls every fall, and carries over a,.'')00 laying hens 

 through the winter. His farm contains 85 acres, 

 and his poultry buildings occupy an acre and a 

 half. These comprise six or seven sheds 200 feet in 

 length. Each shed is divided into apartments of 

 12 by 20 feet, and about 2.5 bens are kept in each 

 division. A yard is made in front of each apart- 

 ment, Mr. H. believes that if confined poultry 

 have their wants attended to, they will do as well 

 as if allowed free range. He bases this belief upon 

 several actual tests. In hatching time he sets 200 

 hens on one day, and puts 500 eggs in an incubator 

 which is due to hatch on the same day, the chick- 

 ens from which will be distributed among the 200 

 hens. His sales of fowls and eggs for hatching 

 at fancy prices are large, about 90 per cent, being 

 profit. He also has a standing order for sixty to 

 ninety dozens of eggs daily, for which he gets the 

 highest market price. Mr Hawkins began, at the 

 age of 21, with 100 hens, and by careful manage- 

 ment and economy, his business has enlarged so 

 that, at the age of 29. he has a very handsome in- 

 come. The poultry manure is quite an item; he 

 sold last year 500 l»arrels, at $1.50 per barrel. 



NOTES FOR BEE KEEPERS. 



Bees usually do well in cities. 



An eastern slope for an apiary site. 



Use the smoker and you won't get stung. 



Honey from sugar is of an inferior quality. 



Flower-raising— a natural adjunct to bee-keep- 

 ing. 



A queen from Palestine was received some time 

 ago by mail, by a Pennsylvania bee keeper. 



Women find apiary work, quite as suitable tor 

 themselves, as it is for men. Equal rights here 

 for the sexes . 



Before fretting long about what market to take 

 your honey to, try the home market. Put your 

 product up in an attractive shape, offer it at the 

 neighboring stores for a reasonably paying price, 

 and you'll find customers enough, we'll warrant. 



The bee men at the fairs, who attract crowds by 

 handling hives of bees as by a charm, are looked 

 upon as a wonderful set The good temper of the 

 bees is largely accounted for by their being from 

 home, and being kept overfed, conditions always 

 lending to make them tame. 



Those who enjoy flowers and gardening, usually 

 find it easy enough to get interested in bees, and 

 by taking the step, derive pleasure, profit and 

 plenty of table sweets, even if engaging in it in only 

 a small way. Popular nAKr>ENi.\o will offer a 

 good deal of assistance in this line, during the year. 



Bear in nitnil that the common Catnip is one of 

 the most valuable plants for bees. The flowers are 

 rich in honey, and for several months commencing 

 with .Tune of each year, yield it freely at all hours 

 and in every kind of weatlier. A patch may easily 

 be raised from the seed, sown the latter part of 

 summer or early in the spring. 



